Though a business’s top priority is customer/client satisfaction, sadly that goal isn’t always achievable. No matter what kind of business you run, professional errors are always a possibility, and a costly one at that. That’s why it’s so important to equip your business with the right coverage. A Tennessee independent insurance agent can get you set up with the right errors & omissions insurance for your business. But first, here’s a closer look at this crucial coverage.

What Is Errors & Omissions Insurance?

While it depends a lot on the specific profession you’re in, generally speaking errors & omissions insurance, commonly nicknamed “E&O insurance,” is an agreement between a business and an insurance company in which the insurer agrees to cover financial losses relating to legal claims against the business. Also known as professional liability insurance, this coverage aims to protect a business and its owner from professional mistakes.

It’s important for business owners of all kinds to equip their company with the right protection. Legal claims and lawsuits filed by customers/clients can be not only embarrassing and tragic, but also costly, sometimes even to the point of sending a business into bankruptcy. Working with a Tennessee independent insurance agent is a great way to get your unique business set up with all the protection it needs.

What Does Errors & Omissions Insurance Cover in Tennessee?

E&O insurance coverage in Tennessee is essentially the same as everywhere else. Depending on the type of services offered by your business, your specific risks will vary from other business owners. The type of coverage you need will depend on the type of potential harm to the public presented by your business, and how great of a risk it is.

Coverage is designed for professionals who offer advice or other services like consultants, lawyers, architects, and even insurance agents. E&O insurance provides protection against lawsuits relating to incorrect information or bad advice that causes unintentional harm to customers/clients.

That being said, there is one specialty type of E&O insurance available to a specific professional niche:

• Malpractice insurance: This coverage is designed for medical practitioners like doctors and nurses, psychiatrists, and OB/GYNs and provides protection for lawsuits relating to errors/mistakes or negligence. Coverage is crucial for basically all workers in the medical field due to the frequency of malpractice suits and the extremely costly nature of these claims.

While nearly every business presents risks like slippery floors and unsteady shelves to their customers, only certain professions carry the risk of harming their clients in ways not relating to bodily injury or property damage. A Tennessee independent insurance agent can help equip your business with the right errors & omissions coverage to protect against lawsuits relating to its unique risks.

What Does Errors & Omissions Insurance Not Cover in Tennessee?

While E&O insurance provides coverage for many potential sources of harm by businesses in Tennessee, sadly it doesn’t cover everything. While the exclusions vary by policy, there are a handful of commonly non-covered perils under E&O policies in Tennessee, including:

• Intentional harm
• Regulatory/statutory penalties
• Employee dishonesty
• Bodily injury
• Property damage

Bodily injury and property damage are covered under commercial general liability (CGL) insurance, so they’re not included under professional liability, aka E&O insurance. If you’re concerned that your business is lacking in any area of protection, a Tennessee independent insurance agent can help you get set up with all the coverage your business needs.

What Are the Benefits of Errors & Omissions Insurance in Tennessee?

Businesses absolutely need liability protection, and depending on your profession, the type of coverage needed may increase to the point of needing more than one type of policy. There are a couple of major benefits to E&O coverage policies offered in Tennessee, including:

• Protection against professional errors/negligence: As a professional offering a service to the public, there’s always the potential to do unintentional harm. While professional liability coverage is obviously needed by doctors and lawyers, it’s also needed by plenty of other professionals, including hairdressers. Botching an entire bridal party’s dye jobs right before the big event, for example, would be a professional error that could result in an ugly lawsuit.
• Protection against liabilities not covered under CGL insurance: Commercial general liability insurance is designed to protect businesses from legal costs relating to accidental/unintentional bodily injury/harm or property damage to their customers or clients. E&O, or professional liability insurance, extends coverage to other areas of unintentional harm, including giving bad advice or performing a service that results in other forms of injury/upset or damage.

Having adequate liability coverage for your business is crucial. Liability claims can cost several hundred thousand dollars and have the potential to bankrupt a business without the proper insurance. Because of the risks involved in operations, business owners in Tennessee need E&O coverage to protect both themselves and the public. Causing unintentional harm is tragic enough to begin with, but with the right coverage, it doesn’t have to mean financial ruin.

How Much Does Errors & Omissions Insurance Cost in Tennessee?

It really depends on the size of your specific businesses, what services you offer, and its potential risk of doing professional harm to the public. Lower-end policies in Tennessee might cost $1,200 annually for professionals like consultants, while higher-end policies that pack in much more necessary protection for professionals like anesthesiologists might easily cost $10,000 or even more per year. Your Tennessee independent insurance agent can fill in the blanks.

Why Work with a Tennessee Independent Insurance Agent?

In order to get the protection you need and deserve, you’ll want to work with a trusted expert. And who could be better for the job than a local agent who shares your area code? Independent insurance agents act as your own personal insurance shoppers, offering you tons more options than one-policy companies. With just one call, they’ll hook you up with multiple quotes.

Tennessee independent insurance agents are armed with knowledge on what coverage is needed in your area, and they’ll get you set up with just enough of it — not too little, not too much. They’ll handle all the heavy lifting so you can rest assured you’ll be set up with the right coverage at the right price.

They’re not just there at the beginning either. If disaster strikes, your Tennessee agent will be there to help walk you through the claims process and make sure you’re getting the benefits you're entitled to. Now that’s thinking ahead.